Pneumatic cleaner



Sept. 8, 1936. 1 B, KlRBY 2,053,563 v ,PNEUMATIC CLEANER Filed Jan. 19, 1931 2 SheeLs-SheeJl l 6B" zo' ZZ fy I j Sept. 8, 1936. E 1 B, K|RBY I Y 2,053,563

PNEUMATICI CLEANER Filed Jan. 19, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 James En Kglrgg Patented Sept. 8, 1936 rtree TET- 2,053,563 PNEUMATIC CLEANER `lamesl B. Kirby, West Richeld, Ohio, assi-gnor to Industriall Improvements Incorporated, Cleveland,i Ohio, a corporation of Ohio,l

Application January I9, 1931, Serial No. 5093861 19 Claims.

This invention relates' to the class of' devices often known: as vacuum cleaners and has'for its' principal object. they provision of simple expedi-` ents whereby the air movement the main nozzle can be reversed so asfto blow4 instead of suck'.- ing, in order to dislodge lint and dust. frominaccessible places such asv the corners, tufts, and crevices. of uphol'steredl'furniture, mattresses andi the` like. Another object of the invention is: the

i provi-sion of Vnew and. improved means: for collecting and evacuating the dust and litter'colilected during: the suction operation; the provision of simple and convenient means for impregnating the. air-stream with insect-destroying substances during VVthe blowing operation; the provision of' simple and eliective means for controlling the diiierenti air streams; the embodiment of the above described features in a simple and compact device; while further objects and advantages of the; invention will' become` apparent as the description` proceeds.

In the drawings accompanying and forming a part of this application I have shown my improvements as embodied in. certain small-sized cleaners designed to be: carriedand manipulated in one hand', although iti will be understoodv that my improvements are not limited to use with this size ofr machine, and that ingeneral these drawings are intended merely to be illustrative of the prin'- ciples of' myv invention, and not restrictive in any manner.

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of one type of' cleaner comprising my improvements, showing the same in use upon an upholstered cushion; Fig. 2i isv a vertical, longitudinal, sectional View showing the parts in position for the suction operation; Fig.V 3 is a. View' similar to Fig. Z but showingA the 'parts arranged' for the blowing operation; Fig. il is' a horizontal sectional view corresponding to 'the'. liney llt- 4' of Fig; 2; Fig. 5 is a'vertical sectional' view corresponding to the line 5-5 of; Figs. 2 and 4s; Fig; 6' is a perspective view' of a secondi'type of cleaner embodying my improvements; Fig. 7 is a top-plan view of the cleaner shown in Fig. 6 with certain ofA the parts shown in horizontal section; Figs. 8 and 9- are vertical sectional-views corresponding to the lines 8.--8 and 9--91 respectively of/Fig. 7; Fig. 10` is a top-plan View of the nozzle portion of the machine shown in Fig. 61, the pump and motor being removed; and Fig. l1 is ay perspective view of the pump and motor element separate from the nozzle.

The type of device illustrated in Figs. l to 5 inclusive is known as: the vertical type or vertical motor type` and is characterized by the location ot the driving motor with its axis more or less vertloal, thatris, perpendicular to the plane' of the inlet mouth with which'the nozzle is formed, though itwill be understood that in use itmay assume anyA VoneY ofagreat number of different positions, especially when the machine is usedon draperies or hangings. The-,casing of my i-mproved cleaner comprises a nozzle l, fan-casing 2, motor-housing 3, operating-handle il, and dustbag 5. The fan-casing comprises achamber-having an inlet opening t1 and outlet opening T, l'ocated the former opposite the face and' the latterl opposite the edge of a centrifugal fan 8 carried N by the shaft Sof an electricmotor-armaturev lil which is located inside the motor-housing A3. According to myv invention provisionv is`l made whereby the nozzle l may be readily *connected either to the inlet or to- Athe outlet l, certain related dispositions of other elements being preferably made at the same time to accomplish certain desi-red ends.Y AOne way of effecting this result is to make the casing in two parts, one movable' relatively to the other. A. good way to do this is to make the casing inftwoseparate parts separated along the vertical plane a-av shown i-n'Figs. 2, 3, and'll, the nozzle yand dustbag being carried by the one part and the fancasing and motor-housing by the other part; the handle 4' being here lshownas perpendicularI to the plane a-a and also to the motor axis 9. inlet-opening B communicates with a port l2I which opens through the'wall defined by the meeting surface'a-a and is locateddirectly belowl thev fan-chamber-outlet port 'l'. The nozzle l, which is; preferably flared laterally and downwardly to terminate in a; downwardly facingv mouth [3, which is. narrow and elongated with its maximum dimension arranged cross-wise of the handle 4., communicates with a port. til. which opens through the opposite wall defined. by the plane Va--a. VThe two parts. of the.V casing are slidably secured together in any suitable. manner as by the metal guide rails lfdl5 carried by the one part and engaging flaring lips carried by the other part.

Formed in the nozzle-part immediately above the port I4 isa port I6 from which a conduit H' leads horizontally to one side and discharges into: a vertical receptacle i8 having an unobstructedl topv |9- about which is fastened the lower end of the bag 5.. The, bottom end of the receptacle i8 is closed by a removable plate 2E). When the portr I4 communicates with the port I'Lthe port I6 communicates with the outlet port 'I and the device works like a common suction cleaner.

Beneath the port I4 is a port 22 which cornmunicates with av horizontal conduit 23 which leads laterally to the side of the cleaner opposite the receptacle I8 and beneath a dispensing chamber 24 adapted to contain insecticide indicated at 25. The insecticide ordinarily employed in this device is a dry crystalline substance, several of which are known on the market, and of these camphor and naphthalene may be taken as examples. I have shown the bottom of the receptacle 24 as formed with an aperture 26 ordinarily closed by a spring-pressed valve 21 and adapted to be opened on occasion by a pushbutton 28. The conduit 23 is formed beyond the valve with suitable air-inlet apertures 29. When the two parts of the casing are slipped past each other to bring the port I4 into register with the port 'I as shown in Fig. 3, the port 22 comes in register with the port I2, and the direction of air movement in the nozzle I is reversed, the necessary air entering through the holes 29. At this time the port I6 is preferably presented to an imperforate surface 3| formed o n the upper part of the machine in order to seal the dust receptacle against the chance escape of any of its contents. The friction of the rails I5 is ordinarily sufficient to hold the parts in the position desired.Y The range of movement may be defined in any convenient manner, as by causing the edge of the fan casing 2 to project into a recess 32 of appropriate vertical extent formed in the Wall of the receptacle I8.

No support is necessary for the bagl 5 since the distending effectof the air holds it erect. All dust and litter collected thereby falls into the receptacle whence it is conveniently removed by displacing the plate 2D.

The type of device illustrated in Figs. 6 to 11r inclusive is known as the horizontal type. The casing comprises a collecting nozzle la, fan casing 2e, motor housing 3a, handle 4a, and dust-bag 5a, but in this type of machine the'motor axis is substantially parallel to the plane of the airmouth wherewith the nozzle is formed. This casing, as before, is preferably made in two parts, one movable relatively to the other so Vas to enable the nozzle |a to be put in communication with either the suction or pressure side of the fan. Ihe fan-casing is provided as before with an inlet opening E and outlet opening or port 1a, the former located in front of and the latter at the edge of the fan 83, which is connected to the motor-shaft 9a. The inlet-opening communicates with a port I2. The two parts of the'casing in this embodiment of the invention meet upon a surface of revolution deiined by the line b-b of Figs. 7, 8, and 9. The nozzle I, communicates with two ports Ma and I4b located one in front of the other. Formed at one side of one of these ports, as Mb, is a port I 8a which communicates with a dust receptacle I8a located at one side of the motor-housing and formed at its upper part with an open neck I 9a for the reception of the dust-bag 5a and at its lower part with a removable closure 2|!a by which the collected litter can be evacuated. Formed at the opposite side of the other port I4a is a port 22BL which communicates with a conduit 23a extending beneath the Vinsecticide receptacle 24a and as before is formed b-b, and the two parts of the casing are held together in any suitable manner as by the'metal band 35 secured to one member and embracing part of the other. When the fan casing is turned Vso as to cause the ports I2, IIIa to register, air

is sucked into the nozzle and discharged into the dust receptacle by the ports 1a, IEE. When the members are rotated one relative to the other to cause the port 'Ia to register with the port I4b the dust receptacle is cut off, and the fan exhaust is blown through the nozzle la, the fan inlet being now connected to the port 22a, and the port IIIa being meanwhile closed by a lip' 36 movable with the fan casing and provided for this purpose. A dispensing valve 21 and push button 28 are shown as before.

With this device the user can with a single operation remove dust and lint from accessible surfaces, blow dust and lint out of inaccessible crevices, and impregnate both crevices and fabric with insecticide material to any extent desired. The device can be made very light so as to be inexpensive and easily manipulated and theshift of the nozzle can be made without the necessity of stopping the operation of the motor.

It will be understood of course, that a great many changes in form, shape, arrangement, and mode of operation can be made in addition to those herein shown and I do not limit myself in any Wise except as specifically recited in my several claims which I desire may be construed each independently of limitations contained in other claims.

Having thus described my invention what I claim is:

l. A manually carried and manipulated pneu- -matic cleaner comprising a casing having a fan chamber with an inlet and an outlet opening located Vin a vertical plane and a working tool communicating directly With said fan chamber and forming an adjustably xed part of said casing, a fan in said fan chamber, an electric motor operatively connected to said fan and a handle for operating said casing and thereby presenting said tool in operative relation to the working surface, and means including a passageway having an opening in the plane of the openings of said fan chamber operative upon the adjustment of said tool for connecting said tool selectively either to the outlet or the inlet of said ian chamber so as either to blow or suck therethrough.

2. A manually supported and manipulated pneumatic cleaner comprising a casing having a fan chamber with an inlet and an outlet opening and a working tool communicating directly with said fan chamber and forming an adjustably fixed part of said casing, a fan in said fan chamber, an electric motor operatively connected to said fan, a dust receptacle, and a handle for operating said casing and presenting said tool in operative relation to the working surface, in combination with means including a passageway havingran opening adapted to be connected to one of the openings of said fan chamber operative upon the adjustment of said tool for establishing connection between said tool and the inlet of said fan chamber and simultaneously establishing connection between said dust receptacle and the fan chamber outlet, or selectively establishing communication between said tool and the outlet of said fan chamber and connecting the inlet thereof to another source of supply, said dust receptacle being carried by said Working 3. A pneumatic cleaner comprising 'a casing having al fan chamber and a working tocl'V which cemmunicates directly;l with said fan chamber. a ian in said chamben an electric meter opera.- tively connected, to said fan, a dust receptacle., an insecticide dispenser having controllable means for discharging measmed quantities ci` ine secticide and a. handle for operating the: cleaner in combination with means; for establishing: com.- municatiena between said tool, and. the fan ber inlet and simultaneously connecting said dust receptacle to the ian. chamber outlet or, selectively establishing free andI unobstructed unica.- tion between the fan chamber outlet and the: atmosphere without removingv said. clustV receptacle and supplying a controllable manner prede.q termined quantities. of insecticide materiali ta the fan chamber inlet. whereby the. operator can direct and control the: discharge ci insecticide froml the cleaner.

4. In a suction cleaner,x a nozzle, alitterreceptacle, a casing; having; a. pump and an electric motor eperativelyconnected to said pri/mm said pump having a singleinlet and. a, single outlet located in one and the same plane; means adjustably securing said nozzle and said receptacle to said casing ier connecting; said nozzle either tov the inlet` orY outlet` oi said pump: se-. lectively in direct communicating relation, and. means operati-ve during the connection of saidi nozzle to the: pump inlet for* connecting the pump outlet to said litter receptacle, said` means including passageways formed in said nozzle and` having openings adapted. for selective connection with the inlet and outlet of said pump;

5. In a cleaning' device, a casing having a clust: separator, an insecticide dispenser effective for dispensing solid particles of an insecticide. material, a pump, an electric motor connected to said pump, a` handle,v and a nozzle, said pump hav-ing an inlet and an outlet, and valve means for connecting sai-d nozzle in direct communicating relation with either said inlet or said outlet Vse,- lectively, said valve means serving; to:- connect. said pump outlet to the dust separator at the same time that said nozzle i-s connected to. the pump inlet, and also to connect the pumpf inlet to the insecticide-dispenser at the same time tlfxat:` said nozzle is connected to the pump outlet.

6. Pneumatic cleaning apparatus comprising an element having a puinpV formed with an in let port and an outlet port located in a vertical plane and an electric: motor operatively connected to said pump, a dust` bag normally connected to the outlet port of said pump. a. second element adjustable with respect to said first element and comprising a cleaning tool and having a port communicating therewith, and means for connecting said elements together with said last port in direct communicating relation with either of said rst two ports selectively and for connecting and disconnecting said dust bag with respect to said outlet port, said cleaning tool dening separate passageways one in communication with said dust bag and the other terminating in the port of said cleaning tool whereby the aforesaid connections with the ports of said pump are effected.

7. Pneumatic cleaning apparatus comprising a casing having a suction chamber formed with a single inlet and a single outlet located in one plane, a dust receptacle, a nozzle continuously secured to said casing and adjustable with respect thereto, means for adjusting said nozzle for establishing communication selectively between said nozzle and either inlet or outlet of said suction chamber, and means; for connecting said dustv receptacle to said outlet when said nozzle is connected to said inlet and for disconnecting said dust receptacle from said outlet when said tool is connected thereto, said nozzle dening separate passageways adapted for selective communication with the nozzle by wayI oi the suction chamber of said casing when the nozzle isgadjusted to different positions..

8. A pneumatic cleanercomprising a casing having a fan chamber with a single inlet opening and a sing-le outlet opening, a rigid nozzle defining, a. working tool communicating with said fan chamber and adjustably secured thereto, a. dust bag normally connected to the fan chamber outlet` opening of said casing', a fan in said ian chamber, a vertically arranged electric motor operatively connected to said fan and rigidly secured to said casing, and means for relatively shifting; said casing and tool in a plane parallel to the axis of said motor for connecting said tooi selectively either to the outlet or the inlet of said fan chamber sov as. either to blow or suck therethrough, said dust bag' being disconnected from said fan chamber' by said means when said tool is connected tesaid fan chamber outlet.

9'. A pneumatic cleaner comprising a casing having a fan chamber with inlet and outlet openings, a working tool communicating with said fan cham-her; a ian in said fan chamber, an electric motor operatively connected to said fan, means for connecting said tool selectively either to the outlet or the inlet of said fan chamber so. as either to blow' or suck therethrough, insecticide dispenser, means effective ier cli-sclliarging solid particles ci an insecticide material from said dispenserinl a. controllable manner, and means or connecting said dispenser in operative relation with. tine, inlet of said chamber while at: the same-time connectingV the outlet of said ian. che-mY` ber with said tool.

l). A pneumatic cleaner comprising a casing having chamber with inlet and' outlet open ings, a working tcol communicating withsaid ian chamber, a, fan` in said fan chamber; an electric motor operatively connected to said fan, means for connecting sai-d tool selectively either to the outlet or theinlet. ci saidl fan chamber so either to blowv er suck therethrough. 'n eiiective for-supplying. particles; o2 an insecticide ma" tcral to said' toolv in a controllable manner, when in the blowing position.

1'1'. A pneumatic cleaner comprising casingr having a fan chamber with inlet and outlet'openings, a working tool conmiunicating with said fan chamber', a. fan in said fan chamber,` an electric motor operatively connected to said fan, means for connecting said tool selectively either to the outlet or the inlet of said fan chamber so as either to blow or suck therethrough, and controllable means effective for supplying particles of an insecticide material by way of said fan chamber to said tool when in the blowing position.

, 12. A pneumatic cleaner comprising a casing having a fan chamber with inlet and outlet openings, a working tool communicating with said ian chamber, a fan in said fan chamber, an electric motor operatively connected to said ian, means for connecting said tool selectively either to the outlet or the inlet of said fan chamber so as either to blow or suck therethrough, and a valved container for supplying particles of an insecticide material to said tool when in the blowing position. 13. A manually supported and manipulated pneumatic cleaner comprising a casing having a fan chamber with a single inlet opening and a single outlet opening, a rigid nozzle deiining a working tool communicating with said fan chamber and adjustably secured thereto, a dust bag normally connected to the fan chamber outlet opening, a fan in said fan chamber, an electric moto-r operatively connected to said fan, a handle for operating said CasinCT and thereby presenting said tool in operative relation to the working surface, said tool, motor and handle being' arranged one behind the other with said dust bag occupying a position intermediate said tool and handleV where it is not apt to interfere with the manipulation of the cleaner, and means operative by a movement of said handle with respect to said tool for shifting and connecting said tool selectively either to the outlet or the inlet oi said fan chamber so as either to blow or suck therethrough, said dust bag being disconnected from said fan chamber by said means when said tool is connected to said fan chamber outlet,

14. A pneumatic cleaner comprising a casing having a fan chamber with inlet and outlet openings, a working tool communicating with said fan chamber, a fan in said ian chamber, an electric motor operatively connected to said fan, means for connecting said tcol selectively either to the outlet or the inlet of said fan chamber so as either to blow or suck therethrough, and manually operable means carried by said cleaner for supplying in a controllable manner an insecticide to said tool when in the blowing position.

15. A pneumatic cleaner comprising a casing having a fan chamber with inlet and outlet openings, a working tool communicating with said fan chamber, a fan in said fan chamber, an electric motor operatively connected to said fan,

means for connecting said tool selectively either to the outlet or the inlet of said fan chamber so as either to blow or suck therethrough, means including an insecticide container carried by said cleaner, and means associated therewith for controlling the supplying of a solid insecticide to said tool when in the blowing position.

16. A pneumatic cleaner comprising a' casing having a fan chamber with adjacent inlet and outlet openings located in one and the same plane, a working tool communicating with said fan chamber by way of an opening located in the plane of the openings of the fan chamber, a fan in said fan chamber, an electric motor operatively connected to said fan, and means for connecting the opening of said tool selectively either to the outlet or the inlet of said fan chamber so as either to blow or suck therethrough.

17. Pneumatic cleaning apparatus of the portable type comprising a'casing having' a suction chamber formed with an inlet opening and an adjacent outlet opening one above the other and facing forwardly of the casing, a dust receptacle, a rigid hollow working tool continuously and adjustably secured to said casing and having a rearwardly presented opening adapted for registry with one or the other of the openings of the suction chamber, means for shifting said tool for establishing direct communication selectively betweenthe opening of said tool and either of the two openings of said suction chamber, and means including a. separate passageway formed in said working tool and terminating at one end in a rearwardly presented opening adjacent to the rearwardly presented opening of the working tool for connecting said dust receptacle to said outlet when said lnozzle is connected to said inlet, the adjacent openings of said passageway and working tool'being located one above the other.

18. A small portable manually carried and manipulated pneumatic cleaner comprising a casing having a nozzle with a downwardly presented working mouth, a dust trap, and a fan chamber having an inlet communicating with said nozzle and an outlet communicating with said dust trap, a fan in said fan chamber, a motor Yfor driving said fan, a handle for said cleaner, a substantially upright dust filter connected to the upper end of the dust trap of said casing in position to discharge its contents into said trap, and a removable cover for the bottom of said dust trap for emptying the contents thereof, said ilter and trap being carried from a point between said nozzle and fan chamber and in front of said handle so as not to interfere with the ordinary use of the cleaner.

119. A small portable manually carried and manipulated pneumatic cleaner comprising a casing having a nozzle with a downwardly presented working mouth, a'dust trap, and a fan chamber having an inlet communicating with said nozzle and an outlet communicating with said dust trap, a fan in said fan chamber, a motor for driving said ian, a handle for said cleaner, asubstantially upright dust filter connected to the upper end of the dust trap of said casing in position to discharge its contents into said trap, and a removable cover for the bottom of said dust trap for emptying the contents thereof, the dust trap being located between the nozzle and the fan chamber ofV said casing so as to support said bag in a position where it does not interfere with the ordinary use of the cleaner.

JAMES B. KIRBY.

CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION.

y Patent No. 2,053,563. September 8, 1936.

JAMES B. KIRBY,

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 2, second column, line '72, claim 2, for "01"" read of; page 3, first column, line '7, claim 3, after "cleaner" insert a comma; page 4, first column, lines 40 and 4l, claim l5, strike out "means including"; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with these corrections therein that the same may conform to the record of tne case in the Patent Office..

Signed and Sealed this 15th day of December A. D. 19156.

Henry Van Arsdale (Seal) Acting Comm ssioner of Patents, 

